Manacle



Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENr ore-E NEWTON S. HILLYABD, OF JOSEPH, MISSOURI MANAcLE Application filed December29, 1930. Serial No.505369.

his invention relates to manacles, and more particularly to a manacle which fastens on both wrists of a prisoner at the same time. I The objects of the invention are to provide a simple manacle which will prevent the prisoner from picking the lock, which is rapid and positive in action, and which will be light and compact.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, the following preferred 7 formls ut1l1zed,in which: I s F 1g. 1 1s a perspective view of the manacle showing the interlocking members in place.

- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the manacle showing it ready to .be applied to a prisoner.

I In the drawing, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the manacle comprises a pairof mating plates 5 and 6 spaced apart by spacers 8 and 9, and containing between the two mating plates 5'and 6 and spacers 8 and 9 a locking member which may be generally designated as 11.

The mating plates 5 and 6 may be stamped out of a sheet and comprise a reverse curve forming two; oppositely concave portions 12 and 1 1 shaped to conform to the wrist, and a central enlarged portion 16 which occupies a central position between the reverse curves.

The plate 5 is provided with a keyhole in the lock chamber 18 in which a key may be inserted to disconnect the pawl 19. The central enlarged portion 16 is provided with ahole symmetrically situated therein to accommodate a rivet 20 which pivotally retains the locking member 11.

The member 11 is formed similarly to the "mating plates 5 and 6 andcomprises a reverse curve forming oppositely concave portions 22 and 23 shaped to fit the wrist, and provided with ratchets 24 and 25 constructed on a circle about the rivet 20 as a center.

The spacer 8 has an inner side concentric with the ratchet 24; and separates the plates 5 and 6. The spacer 8 is held in position by means of rivets 26 which'fasten together the mating plates and the spacer. The spacer 9 holds the mating plates 5 and 6 apart at .the opposite end and is formed of a hollow periphery having an opening 27 in the side adjacent the ratchet 25 to permit the opera- 7 tion ofthe pawl therethrough. The pawl 19 is pivoted at 28 and is provided with a part 17 at an angle thereto against which the key presses to release the pawl from the ratchet, the part 17 being retained in the pawllocking position by a spring 30.

"In operation, the prisoners wrists are brought together and placed within the oppositely concave portions 12 and 14 of the mating places 5 and 6, and the locking member 11 clamped around the wrists. The pawl 19 and'ratchet 25 lock the cufi and insure against the} manacle coming loose. The keyhole 17 is ,placed'onthe wrist facing away from the rands and thus precludes the prisoner picking the lock. I

Since the locking member is pivotally mounted between the mating plates 5 and 6,

itis'adapted to pass completely past the pawl.

For this reason it is impossible for the manacles to become'locked without-having some thing between them,

It will be seen that there is but one operation necessary to manacle a prisoner, and that the manacle is of simple construction and is very fast in application.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a body comprising spaced plates having oppositely facing arcuate portions on opposite ends thereof forming wrist-receiving seats, and a rlgid lever having wr1st-clamping poring the lever against movement in one direction.

I a rigid lever having wrist-clamping Portions 'pivotally mounted at the center of said body to swi'n-gbetween the arms, and means in the case engageable with one endof said lever for i latching the lever in wrist-clamping position against movement in .uncl'ampin'g direction'.:'

4. In a deviceof the character described,

a member having reversely curved ends fermg I in g oppositely facing wrist-receiving seats, a second member having reversely c'll'rved ends forming wrist-receiving seats cooperating V with the seats in the first named member,

means for .pivotally connecting the members together atapoint midway of said reversely cnrve'd ends whereby the wrist. seats in one i member swingtoward the wrist seats of the other member, and means carried by one of the gmembe rs for latching the members Q against pivotal movement-in one direction.

' 5,. Inadevice of the' character described, N V. V a member having reversely curved ends; form .7

7 'ing oppositely facing wrist-receiving seats, a

second member havingreverselycurved ends it i,

forming "wrist-receiving seats cooperating with the-seats inithe first named member, 'means for pivctally connecting the members j together at ape-int midway of said "reversely Curved ends wherebyithe i wrist seats in, one

Q member s ing toward the wristseats of. the

other member, means carried by one of-the i I members; forrlatchinggthemembers against pivotal movementln one direction, and means associated with one of the'members to guide the reversely curved ends of the other me'm- I ber. I

' xIn testimony,whereofI-aifix my signature. 

